Author's Corner.
Awesome *claps hands*: Break-times's over! Let's get moving people!
PikaMewGirl: Where're those Regigigas?! Nobody1441 was in charge of CGI rendering, wasn't he?!
Alpha-bread: It's okay! They won't make too much of an appearance on the set! Besides that *flips checklist* Dragon Knights! Get to your places! Lightning, keep those red contacts on and this time, try not to pay attention to the camera!
Lightning: It's not like I can help it-nya! And can you tell Draco to work on his hits? They're coming on a bit harder than I expected-de arimasu!
Draco: Well, at least I'm acting properly!
Slybill: Quiet, you two! Flandre Nightshade, move to CGI section! Tae! Get your butt in here and play that background music like you mean it! And when Nobody1441 gets here, tell him to take over the sound engineering!
Awesome: Skidz, back to the visuals with you!
PikaMewGirl: And bring me some coffee while you're at it!
Skidz: But...why me?
Polardawn: I'm done with the make-up!
Flandre Nightshade: CGI and settings are back online!
Tae *sits at piano and cracks knuckles*: The band and I are just about ready to go.
Awesome: Then let's do this! Places everyone!
Slybill: "DANCING WITH MAD DRAGONS UNDER THE RED MOON": Take One. And...ACTION!
DISCLAIMER: SLYBILL DOESN'T OWN POKEMON! ELSE, THE ANIME WOULD'VE GOTTEN A SERIOUS OVERHAUL BY NOW!
The reddening atmosphere fuses with the spraying blood and pained screams to form an apocalyptic backdrop worthy of making even Arceus reconsider why he ever created the beautiful hell known as the world.
And as I look to the blood-red Moon, messenger of coming darkness and impending doom...I say to myself,
"What a Marvellous World..."
Catacombs of Despair, Castrum De Glacies.
In the dim interiors of the castle's inner chambers, rapid footsteps echoed through the stony halls coupled with the occasional call of an attack and the screams of enemy grunts and pokemon.
"Just how long is this place?" Cynthia asked as they rounded a bend.
"If I remember correctly...it took me ten minutes to be carried to Kyurem's resting place," Scarlet replied. "But it looks like Ghetsis revamped this hell-hole so it could be longer."
Cheren checked his watch. "You said the main event starts at about 5:30 right? Then we've only got twenty minutes. We'd better hurry if we hope to stop Ghetsis before he uses White to awaken Kyurem."
"Indeed. I want to get out of here as soon as possible," Cynthia stated and kept her grey eyes away from the walls. "Those murals give me the creeps."
Alphinia simply remained silent throughout, tuning her ears and Limited Omniscience to a certain blonde some floors below.
You're worrying too much, Salamence remarked from the confines of its pokeball.
Lightning's a strong human. He can take care of himself, Natu chirped from her hair and looked back. Or that's what I want to believe.
"So much for emotional support," she deadpanned and leapt into the air before coming down on an approaching Joid's head with her foot, crushing it completely. "Draco seemed different...much different. It's like I was staring at a mirrored version of Ghetsis."
He must've gotten consumed by Kyurem's madness, Salamence concluded, closing its eyes and shaking its head. I could sense his anger and mental deterioration from a mile away. If Lightning's not careful...he could get slaughtered.
"But he always pulls through," Alphinia remarked, more to herself than to her pokemon. "Always. But...given Draco's state of mind, Lightning'd have to kill him to stop him from going deeper into Kyurem's madness..."
"Lightning won't kill him."
The blonde looked to her side to see Scarlet running beside her.
"His eyes didn't hold any grudge towards Draco. Instead, they looked more like they were pleading for him to come to his senses," he remarked and smirked. "That guy's hero-complex always gets the better of him and though it often kills a lot of people, Filbert just might pull through without killing Draco."
"But how can he do that? I know Draco more than you guys do. He's virtually indestructible," Alphinia argued and felt herself slow down. "I...I need to check on him-"
Cynthia held her wrist. "Humans have their own pride too, you know. Let Lightning take care of himself. He's a man now so he doesn't need his little girlfriend watching over him all the time."
The ex-knight went red. "G-girlfriend? W-where did that come from?!"
Cynthia threw a coy smile. "I know a lovestruck dragon when I see one. It was just like that time with my Garchomp and Lance's Dragonite-"
"What she's trying to say," Scarlet butted in before the woman could lapse into her usual 'back-when-I-was-only-twenty" routine. "-Is that Gilbert will find a way. It's what heroes do. Besides, that guy's as stubborn as all hell when it comes to his ideals so he won't just die without making a contribution."
"And he's a sacrifice so Draco simply cannot kill him. End of discussion," Rain chipped in matter-of-factly and stopped as they got into an expansive, dome-shaped hall.
LP cursed. "We've got company."
True to his words, three people stood at the centre of the room with their respective pokemon.
An Injun and his herp-derp Garchomp.
A brunette and her floating Kingdra.
And a scrawny beast with a bloodthirsty Hydreigon.
"It's over, sacrifices. This far and no further with your foolish determination," Terra boomed, glaring so hard that one would've thought he was using an advanced version of Scary Face.
"Sorry, injun," Scarlet replied, ignoring the tick mark that broke across said knight's head. "But I plan to get White back and I'll beat as many Red Indians as I can to do it."
"You brat. You may have grown taller and gotten a new arm but that still doesn't account for how you will actually go through us," Terra growled and tore off his jacket, revealing a large diamond attached to his vest. "I may have been easy enough back then but Lord Ghetsis has given me an upgrade. I really wish to punish you with it and send you back to your grave where you belong."
"No can do," Scarlet replied as Jolteon stepped before him while letting out some intimidating sparks. "As much as I'd love to pummel you for ripping my heart to shreds back in Opelucid, time isn't exactly my best friend at the moment." His features darkened considerably. "Move, Terra."
"As the saying goes for a new anime movie I was watching: You can (Not) advance," Joid snickered and got into a fighting stance. "You'd have to take my head before you can actually pass through here."
Both sides stared each other down before LP smirked.
"Hey, Scrawny! You're supposed to be the guilty sacrifice right?" he asked, taking out a pokeball.
Joid arched a brow. "Yeah. What of it-" He froze. "Shit!"
"Machamp! Hold that fucker down!" LP cried, flinging the ball over the knights' heads. In a flash, the pompadour's Machamp had grabbed Joid before he could leave for the exit and before Terra and Aqua could do anything further, Alphinia's Salamence and Scarlet's Jolteon had let loose a massive blast of fire and electricity respectfully, separating the trio and their pokemon since they had to scatter to avoid the attack.
Terra's expression contorted. "You little-"
"Samurott, Dual-shell Blade!"
"Zoroark, Night Slash!"
Terra's Garchomp found itself pushed back significantly by Cheren's and N's pokémon's combined attacks, slamming into Terra in the process. Before the knight could get up, the two men had landed on him and they gave a quick glance to Scarlet before smirking.
"Go!" they cried in unison before disappearing into the floor below as Cheren's Samurott and N's Zoroark raised their fists and executed a double-Focus Punch on the ground right below them and their trainers, shattering it completely.
"Step 1: Complete," Cynthia remarked and turned to see two gleaming blue eyes in the ensuing dust. "Now I guess I'd better take care of you, Aqua Mareen."
"So your plan was to separate us?" the brunette asked and gave a haughty laugh. "Oh please. You puny attempts are futile and it'd be suicide to take us knights on without proper support. Scratch that, it's impossible even with all the support in the world. You of all people should know that, old hag."
Cynthia's smile froze. Slowly but surely, Scarlet and Jolteon saw a comical reddish aura of pure rage waft from the still-smiling blonde.
"Hag? Oh my. That's a rather strong word, you little sow," she laughed, wiggling her dainty fingers before making a fist. "I think it's time this lady taught you some manners. Scarly, Alphy, Jolteon."
"Yes!" the aforementioned teens and pokemon croaked, straightening up like planks of wood at her menacing appearance.
"Go get White and beat Ghetsis till he begs for mercy," she chirped and opened her eyes a tiny crack. "I have some business to attend to with this rude bitch."
"Language," Rain sighed and gestured to the exit. "You heard her. Go."
"But what about you, LP and Latios?" Scarlet asked.
"It's hard enough holding this kid down!" LP called, suddenly jumping back and avoiding a blow from Joid's Hydreigon.
And we have to help in bringing down that troublesome Hydreigon, Latios added and turned to the Brutal Pokémon before charging up a Dragon Pulse and launching the sphere at it.
"So there you have it," Rain stated and activated his styler. "We've got Joid so Ghetsis's plan has been interrupted. Go, you two. I'm sure with your combined strength, you can bring that madman down."
"Are you actually wishing us luck?" Scarlet asked sceptically, given the bluenette's stoic and somewhat cold nature.
"Don't push it. Remember that you're still on probation," Rain deadpanned and frowned harder as the sounds of incoming grunts and pokémon began to creep into the atmosphere. "Now hurry! We'll hold them off."
"Got it!" Scarlet turned to Alphinia. "Lead the way, princess!"
Nodding, Alphinia started towards a door at the far right with Scarlet and Jolteon following closely after. Seeing his enemies having the upper hand, Joid ground his fangs and grabbed the muscular arms holding him down.
"Like hell I'm gonna let you pass!" he roared, tightening his grip and slowly but surely getting the Machamp's arms off him. Once he had wrenched the first arm off, he slammed his elbow into the pokémon's chest, making it double over in pain. Using that chance, he threw his head back with all his might and bashed into its skull with the force of a Cranidos's headbutt. Crying out, Machamp stumbled back and held its bleeding head, an action that worked in Joid's favour as he swept the pokémon's legs from under it and ran straight for Scarlet with enough killing intent to make even a Weavile shudder.
BAM!
Joid screamed as blood sprayed from the gory injury on his face before tearing out the spiked cannonball lodged in his eye.
"You're a jumpy son of a bitch, ain't ya?" LP mocked and blew the tip of his gun. "You ain't passing through that door, brat so just sit your ass down and sulk or something."
Hissing, Joid made to go for the exit again but was once again stopped as not one but seven spiked balls tore through his legs and chest, rendering them temporarily useless. Before he could get up, Machamp and Gliscor came down on him with their Giga Impacts and pinned him to the floor.
"Thanks guys! Stay alive!" Scarlet called as he disappeared behind the door with his friends.
"Damn," Aqua cursed under her breath and put up a defiant smirk at Cynthia. "Plan all you want. Kyurem will still be awakened no matter what strategy you foolish humans come up with-"
"Dragonbreath!"
In the blink of an eye, Aqua was engulfed in blue flames that virtually peeled a good fraction of her skin off her bones. She was lucky Kingdra hosed her down else she would've been reduced to ash.
"Hey! I didn't finish!" she snapped hotly and wrung the water out of her hair as her regenerative powers kicked in with a snap, fixing her up immediately.
"Ah, my bad," Cynthia sneered, expression frozen in that ever-happy smile. "My hand must've dropped Garchomp's pokeball by accident and well, I just couldn't let it stand there."
A fat tick mark sprung up Aqua's head and she closed her twitching eyes as if in thought. "You know what? Let's take this catfight somewhere I can actually think without the INCESSANT BLASTS AND SCREAMS FROM THOSE MEN!"
"Sorry," Rain, LP, Joid and the pokémon called back.
Satisfied, Aqua tapped the ground twice and the floor underneath Cynthia's feet disappeared, taking her and her pokémon down a big, black hole that led to Arceus-knows-where with the brunette and Kingdra following suit.
"Cynthia, we leave her to you," Rain murmured and faced Hydreigon squarely with a much more determined expression. "I guess it's time we got serious, Latios, LP."
"Finally!" LP exclaimed and raised his boot before crashing it into Hydreigon's muzzle, breaking the dragon's jaw. Immediately after, the pokémon screamed as high-level voltage coursed through its veins, transmitted from the hunter's customised soles. At the same time, Joid broke free once again from the grips of LP's pokémon and was again, heading for the exit when Rain landed on his back and raised his styler.
"Vatonage Function Seven: Heaven's Chainsaw!" he cried and Joid's eyes went as big as saucers as Rain's styler generated a large beam of light resembling a very-angry buzzsaw. This was going to hurt.
BZZZZZZZRRRRRTTTTTT!
"Graaaaaaaaaghhhhh!" the ravenette screeched as the weapon cleaved through his neck, almost severing his head off. Before Rain could put an end to the boy, the grunts finally came and Rain had to jump back as six Scrafty came for him with Headbutts.
Staggering to his feet, Joid held his bleeding neck and trembled as the blood sprayed spectacularly from his horrific wound.
"No…" he muttered and felt his hair losing some of its black sheen. "Dammit…if I lose anymore…."
"You'll lose Scarlet's soul and hopefully return to your old self," LP finished with a smirk. "Pretty good plan. I came up with it, by da way!"
"Bastard…" Joid growled through chattering fangs and suddenly, his expression changed to complete insanity. "HOW DARE YOU!"
Dropping his arms, the boy ripped off his jacket and bow-tie before roaring loudly and snapping backwards with a CRACK. Nails elongating, Joid arched down again until he was on all fours and his canines grew several inches in length, giving him an overall menacing appearance.
"I'll kill you," he whispered and giggled mindlessly to himself. "You're trying to take my soul away, you're trying to drive me back into that awful state…I don't wanna go back…hehehehe, so I'll kill you before you kill my consciousness first! I kill you and eat your stupid brains! HAHAHAHA DIE!"
Like a rocket, Joid tore his way through his own allies and slammed into Latios's protective shield with his jaws wide open. Hissing, he raised a fist and Rain's senses went on alert at the maddened look on his opponent's face.
"Latios, move!" the ranger cried. Too late.
With an insane roar, Joid broke the force field like glass and sent Latios into the nearest wall with his fist. Not stopping there, he jumped up quickly, avoiding Gliscor's Fire Fang before coming down hard on its back with his knee and smashing it down on the floor.
"Gliscor, hang in there buddy!" LP cried, loading his Cannonball 47s. To his surprise, each shot was nimbly avoided by the angry ravenette who leapt from grunt to grunt, letting them take the hits instead. By the time LP was out of shots, Joid was a mere foot away from him and he was about smashing his head when Machamp's Focus Punch socked him in the head, crushing Joid's left eye completely.
"AAAAAAAAGGHHHH!" he screamed, stumbling back and holding his bleeding eye. "You stupid pokémon-"
"Vatonage Function Nine."
Joid froze in his tracks and pointed his wide eye downwards where a star-shaped beam of light glowed underneath him brightly.
"Orion's Judgment!" Rain called, crossing his arm.
BOOOOMMMM!
Joid's animalistic scream rang through the castle halls as light enveloped his entire frame and those of Hydreigon, the grunts and enemy pokémon as well, incinerating their souls completely. Another explosion later, everyone except for Rain, LP, Latios, Machamp and Gliscor lay unconscious on the stone floor.
"Thanks for stalling him while I set up the attack," Rain sighed and pocketed his hands. "I have to admit, an angry Joid isn't the best Joid to duel with."
"You got that right," LP remarked, inspecting his pokémon's injuries. "Whoa…you guys need plenty of rest. Thanks for the help."
Giving their replies, Machamp and Gliscor gratefully returned to their pokeballs and Rain retracted his styler before taking Latios's head in his hand and inspecting his cheek.
Trust me, it hurts way less than it looks, Latios mumbled reassuringly as LP grimaced at the nasty gash in the afflicted area where Joid had punched the Eon pokémon. We can worry about this later. For now, Scarlet, Alphinia and Jolteon will need our help.
Nodding, Rain turned to Joid's twitching body and set his styler to sabre mode.
"I suppose lopping off his head will be the finishing blow?" he asked.
"Duh," LP scoffed and pocketed his hands. "If you ain't comfortable with it, I can just-"
"It's fine," Rain cut in, slowly raising the weapon high. "I'll be merely sending Joid back to the dead."
He brought it down….and stiffened as he was met with stiff opposition as Joid suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the blade of light.
"Fuck! He's still moving!" LP swore, reaching for his guns again. However, Joid's free hand seemingly moved of its own free will and extended towards LP, grabbing his neck and slamming him into the wall.
"LP!" Rain cried before feeling himself getting lifted by Joid's other arm holding the sabre. With a wet crack, the arm extended rapidly, bashing him into Latios and effectively pinning them both to the floor.
Rain! The madness! Latios barked as Joid slowly rose to his feet though his posture now seemed hunched.
"So he's finally snapped," Rain commented and slashed off the tentacle-like arm before rolling away and getting to his feet. LP on the other hand had some trouble as the hand on his neck began to clamp painfully. Rain moved to help when Joid's arm regenerated and recoiled a bit before shooting forward once more, grabbing his face and slamming him into a railing. Struggling against his merciless grip, the men caught a glimpse of the ravenette's shadowed face and almost immediately knew that something had gone terribly wrong somewhere.
Joid didn't have that expression of hatred anymore. Neither did he have anger, frustration or even excitement. His face was blank. Empty. Dead…
"Dead…" Rain murmured before feeling his eyes widen. "LP, this guy…he's actually unconscious!"
"If he's unconscious then why's he still moving!" LP growled through gritted teeth as he tried to pry Joid's hand off his neck.
"…I don't want this…"
The men and pokémon froze. Did Joid just speak normally?
"I just wanted to live…" the boy uttered to no one in particular and his eyes began to bring forth bloody tears. "Live…live…live. Live. Live. Live. Live. LIVE!"
Without warning, he slammed Rain and LP into each other before retracting his arms to normal size and grabbing the sides of his head, screaming maniacally.
"The noise-SOULS-shut it-my mind-memories-it hurts-Jade-Lord Ghetsis-Hydreigon-help me-hungry!"
As the boy ranted, Rain quickly got to his feet before extending his blade a few inches.
I can't put a claw on it but…I think Scarlet's old soul is messing up his psychological settings, Latios commented cautiously.
"Then let's use this chance and kill 'im!" LP barked, finally taking out his guns and letting off six rounds at Joid. The target stopped mid-rant and dodged the attacks before pointing his wide, yellow eyes at the men and pokémon.
"Don't stare," he whispered through trembling teeth and threw his hands forward like tentacles once more. "Don't look at me!"
Scattering, the trio surrounded Joid and began attacking him again. However, the boy must've gotten an upgrade in body flexibility as he dodged each shot and parried each blow from his opponents, landing some hard hits on them in the process.
"Latios, Lustre Purge!" Rain ordered.
On it! The blue dragon replied, coating himself in psychic energy and hurling his bulk at Joid who raised a hand and reached into the glowing attack, grabbing Latios by the head and dissipating the highly devastating attack in the process. What greatly unnerved the pokémon more was the dead smile on Joid's tear-stricken face.
"My head feels funny," he babbled and gripped Latios's forehead tightly, making him wince. "So I'll make your head funny too. Isn't that nice, Jolteon?"
"It's confirmed," LP stated, appearing behind the boy and sending his boot into his head before delivering a blinding electric shock to his brain. "You're freaking crazy!"
"LP, get away from him!" Rain barked.
"Why?! I got his head right under my-"
PUNCH!
LP was lifted (more of punched) off as Joid's long arm made contact with his chin, sending him spiralling back to Rain's side. Laughing hysterically, Joid rolled across the ground before stopping right in front of Hydreigon and turning to grin at his foes.
"I always wanted to be human," he remarked, looping an arm around the unconscious pokémon. "I know I used to be one years ago…but I died. But Ghetsis gave me another shot at life. That's why I just want to live again. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep on enjoying this new life…even if it means living as a twisted monster."
Latios suddenly went rigid and Rain could feel his trembling.
"Latios…?"
The dragon's face morphed into shock horror as Joid lifted Hydreigon high. That beast…He's going to…to...
Joid's jaws stretched to unimaginable proportions, revealing rows and rows of teeth, gums and saliva, all of which hinted the men at what would happen next. Ranger instincts kicking back with a vengeance, Rain sharply ran towards Joid, intending to free Hydreigon.
He was too late.
CHOMP!
Rain froze. LP gawked. And Latios held a paw to his mouth, feeling his stomach lurch uncomfortably.
For Joid was devouring his own pokémon, right before their very eyes.
Seconds later, the bloody activity came to an end and Joid spat out a clump of black fur before turning to his opponents in a wobbly manner.
"Tasty," he remarked, dragging a red tongue across his blood-stained lips. "Now I can take you both down."
Suddenly, his hair began to spike up in several places and whatever injuries he had received were closing much faster. Furthermore, a blackish, fur-like substance formed around his shoulders, extending up to his right arm and ending in blue, bony talons. On his right, energy swirled around his hand before manifesting into the vaguely familiar shape of Hydreigon's head. Lastly, six black wings sprouted from Joid's back and his posture hunched a bit as a fat tail tore out of his back and hit the floor with a heavy slam.
"Oh dear," Rain murmured.
"Fuck," LP hissed. "This is gonna be harder than I thought."
You think! Latios deadpanned and winced as Joid threw a throaty roar. I can't believe he devoured his own pokémon.
"I-It's a d-defence mechanism…" a grunt coughed, struggling to lift himself off the floor. "If Joid's life is in any real danger, he h-has to e-eat any Kyurem c-corrupted being t-to replenish the artificial life-force within him."
"How horrific," Rain remarked.
"Horrific?" Joid asked loudly and sneered before throwing a devious, if not frightening, smirk. "I'll show you REAL horror. Brace yourselves, humans."
LP gave the boy a onceover before raising his guns. "Well, since it comes to this, I guess long-range attacks aren't worth shit. If you gotta take down monsters like him, hands-on stuff are always da way to go."
The Cannonball 47s immediately split in two before drawing back and enveloping his fists. After some seconds of reconstruction, LP raised his steel boxing gloves and pointed a fist at Joid.
"If you wanna fight dirty then fine by me. Come at me, bro!"
Rain sighed before raising his sabre. "I guess we'll have to get closer to Joid. Luckily, he's more pokémon than human now so there's only one function I can use."
You're going traditional?! Latios asked in wonder as the blade retracted and returned to what it was in the very beginning: a simple capture disc.
"Vatonage Function Mode Zero: Capture Styler," Rain stated and held out his styler-arm before charging his weapon. "Time to act like a real Pokémon Ranger. Like LP said: Come at us, bro!"
"With pleasure!" Joid cried and their true fight began.
Hall of Aqua, Castrum De Glacies.
"Garchomp, Brick Break!" Cynthia ordered firmly. Garchomp roared and raised its glowing red claw before bringing it down on the incoming Kingdra who whizzed out of the way sharply and charged an Iron Tail. Without further orders, Garchomp executed another Brick Break which intercepted with Kingdra's attack and threw up water everywhere.
Yes, they had been transferred to some sort of aquatic battleground with Garchomp having to stand on wide-floating pads. A rather disadvantageous situation for the champion and her pokemon as they were on Aqua's playing field now.
"What's the matter, Cynthia?" she mocked as Garchomp struggled to keep from slipping off the edge. "Not so hot now that your strongest pokémon is at a disadvantage, right?"
"You make it sound like I didn't bring another pokémon," Cynthia deadpanned, tossing out another pokeball. "Go, Milotic!"
Aqua scowled upon seeing the beautiful sea serpent burst out and glare at Kingdra. "Two against one, eh?"
"One?" Cynthia asked and Garchomp let loose a hot Dragonbreath towards Aqua who gasped before raising a hand and quickly tearing the space between her and the flames apart. The blonde watched as Garchomp's attack was promptly absorbed and inwardly cursed. Subduing Aqua was going to be much harder than she expected.
"Hey! Don't just attack me out of the blue like that!" Aqua barked angrily as Kingdra began to form an Ice Beam. "I thought good trainers don't use their pokémon to attack people!"
"You're not exactly a person," Cynthia remarked and pointed towards Kingdra. "Garchomp, jump and use rapid-fire Dragon Pulse! Milotic, Hyper Beam!"
As soon as she called out the attacks, Kingdra sent its Ice Beam at Garchomp who dodged and launched several Dragon Pulses at its opponent. Before it could dodge, a powerful Hyper Beam from Milotic grazed its side, distracting Kingdra long enough to be caught by Garchomp's Dragon Pulses. The ensuing explosion blew so much water out of the field that Cynthia's and Aqua's clothes were starting to get drenched.
"Damn, you're one tough old lady," Aqua growled as Kingdra woozily floated back to her side. "I guess we'll have to get serious, Kingdra. Maybe we'll go for 81% power."
Cynthia arched a brow. "81%?"
Suddenly, Aqua's eyes changed from blue to slight red and Kingdra began to tremble violently before a loud snap was heard. Immediately after, the pokemon's scale radiated brightly and the champion, along with her pokémon, grew stunned as a pinkish halo of energy swirled around Kingdra's head. Stretching her arms, Aqua took off her jacket and cracked her knuckles.
"Let's do this, bitch. Kingdra, Earthquake!"
"Earthquake?!" Cynthia gasped and with an otherworldly roar, Kingdra jumped into the air and came down on the watery floor with its glowing tail, making a large bang and starting up a massive tremor that not only sent Milotic out of the water and into the air but also nearly tore the very floor to shreds and upturned Cynthia's floating pad completely, sending her to the watery ground below with a splash.
"Not done yet. Blizzard!" Aqua snapped. Complying, Kingdra sent a really fast ball of energy that slammed into Garchomp and exploded in cold smoke, several small icicles and a tremendous snowstorm. "Now, Zap Cannon!"
Cynthia watched as her drenched Milotic was subjected to a punishing bolt of pure, unadulterated electricity that lit up the very field itself and sent the snowy wind dispersing in all directions. A splash later, the frazzled Milotic lay still in the water with little sparks dancing in and out of its skin.
"It's just like I'm battling for the League title," Aqua scorned, clapping her hands in delight and hugging Kingdra for its impossible feats.
"Earthquake, Zap Cannon and that speed..." the champion murmured as Garchomp, sporting frozen spots across its purple skin, painfully landed on a broken floatation pad before her. "Moves otherwise impossible for an ordinary Kingdra."
"That's where you're wrong, chump," the brunette stated and Kingdra let out an intimidating rumble. "Just like Alphy's Salamence can teleport and Indie's Garchomp can move super fast, this big guy was made to be the ultimate battle pokemon, capable of utilising ANY move possible. When at a certain power level of course."
"So that's why you said 81%." Cynthia smirked and Garchomp sprang to its feet while the presumably-fainted Milotic lifted itself and growled angrily. "Then we'll step up to 81% as well."
Aqua blinked. "Eh?"
"Garchomp, Draco Meteor. Milotic, Recover," the blonde ordered calmly. "Let's see just how far we can push this ultimate pokemon's strength."
"Are you some kind of idiot?" Aqua laughed scornfully as Garchomp crossed its arms and formed a glowing spiral of energy within its chest while Milotic closed its eyes took a deep breath, assuming a coating of light around its wounds. "You're underestimating us, aren't you? Oh well. It's almost time so I guess I'd better knock you out and bring you to-"
"Fire."
BANG!
Aqua's eyes followed the glowing ball sent into the air and waited as the object stopped and hovered solemnly. Ten seconds later, she cast a WTF look at the Garchomp as it got beamed back into its ball. "What the hell was that for?"
"Oh, ignore the ball up there. Let's just get this scuffle over with," Cynthia chuckled in a grannie-like fashion before letting her expression morph to that of pure seriousness. "Time for this champion to show you what she's made of. One on one."
"...Okay...Kingdra, Dragon Rush."
Nodding, Kingdra reared back before surging forward and in the direction of Milotic.
"Dodge and use Dragon Tail," Cynthia shot back and the sea serpent fluidly dodged the attack with its tail already aglow. Using the added force from turning, it smashed its tail into Kingdra, sending it some distance back and into a wall. "Keep using Dragon Tail."
"Counter with Extremespeed!"
Milotic cursed as its tail hit the empty wall before wincing as the already-moving Kingdra landed light but sharp blows on its sides and neck.
"Stay strong. Focus. We've come up with strategies for this," Cynthia said to herself though Milotic picked it due to its sensitive hearing. Staying still, Milotic let its red eyes follow each bluish blur and at once, its intelligent mind went to work, calculating the intervals between blows.
3...2...1...
"Now!" Cynthia ordered sharply and at the same time, Milotic raised its tail (which had gathered quite enough power as it was still aglow) and planted a heavy blow to Kingdra's belly right as it zoomed past the yellow pokemon, causing it to gasp loudly and tumble through several floatation pads before slamming into the wall again. "Don't give it any chance. Hyper Beam!"
"Dodge!" Aqua barked. Huffing, Kingdra zoomed away again before drifting across the water and diving in fully. "Waterfall full power!"
Roaring, Kingdra gathered a large amount of aura around itself as it gathered speed, virtually splitting the watery battlefield in two in its one way course to Milotic.
"Steady," Cynthia whispered and Milotic took a deep breath to recover whatever energy it had lost from the earlier Hyper Beam.
Halo widening, Kingdra's speed increased even further and its roar was getting even more guttural.
"Aim." Milotic's tail went aglow again, signifying another Dragon Tail in the works.
By now, Kingdra's red eyes were blazing brightly and at the speed it was going, a head-on collision with Milotic's Dragon Tail would surely snap the latter's tail (and lower torso) cleanly in half.
However-
"Jump!" the champion snapped and Milotic heaved itself into the air, dodging Kingdra's one-way attack, much to Aqua's surprise. At that split-second moment when Kingdra was just underneath Milotic, Cynthia cried "Giga Impact!" and Milotic's glow spread to its entire body before it came down with its tail sharply on Kingdra's back sending it all the way to the bottom of the expansive pool and cratering the ground below.
Stunned, Aqua looked on as Milotic landed back into the water, swam to its trainer's side and snorted contemptibly back at her.
"From the look on your face, its obvious you've never gone into real pokemon battle before," Cynthia remarked, stroking her pokémon's neck while scornfully smiling at the brunette. "Also, you don't seem to have much experience with tough opponents."
Aqua ground her fangs. "Shut up..."
"Is it because you're used to overpowering your enemies or you work better in a group? Oh my, that's quite the face you're making."
"Shut up."
"You weren't good with battles in the first place. I know because any good trainer wouldn't have used a head-on attack against Milotic unless they were really close."
"Shut up! You think you've won, human?!"
"Poor, poor girl," Cynthia sighed, shaking her head. "I remember back when you were still 14. You excelled in contests and absolutely detested pokémon battles, right Clarissa Goodshow?"
Aqua stiffened at that name. It was the same one that foolish old man had called her. Suddenly, a sharp pain sliced through her skull like a knife and she smacked a hand to her forehead before starting to scream.
"Don't be stupid! I don't know who the fuck you're talking about and I don't give a shit either!" she screeched and began to laugh as her eyes went redder. "You think you're so smug cos you've won this round but I'm a freaking Dragon Knight! I certainly am NOT losing to a washed-out hag like you!"
Why do they always go for my age? Cynthia inwardly lamented with a sweatdrop. "Just surrender already, Clarissa."
"That's not my name!" Aqua barked harshly and raised a hand. "Kingdra!"
Suddenly, the water before her erupted forcefully and her battered pokemon glared hatefully at the blonde champion.
"Release all limiters! Let's go 100% and show these ugly bitches who they're dealing with!"
The dragon actually paused and looked at her hesitantly before facing skyward and glowing again. This time, its halo spiralled noisily and grew even larger, somehow filling Kingdra with so much power that its aura virtually manifested to form a massive pair of wings behind its back. And it was flying! Really and truly flying! Even the water and air below it spiralled about from the sheer weight of the aura above it, making Cynthia raise a brow. Aqua, on the other hand, had her hair swishing about her and her skin sporting just the tiniest signs of scales.
"Ah, this could be a problem," she said to herself and recalled Milotic before calling out a pokémon best suited for such an intimidating appearance. "I need you, Lucario!"
Her blue, bipedal, fox-like fighter appeared in crouching position before throwing a challenging battle-cry and getting into a fighting stance.
"A Lucario? Ha! Like that will do you any good! Tear it apart, Kingdra!" Aqua sneered, pointing a nail at Lucario.
"On the contrary, Clarissa," Cynthia countered and her pokémon closed its eyes. "Giving Lucario this large field of powerful aura was pretty much the best advantage we've ever chanced upon."
Suddenly, Lucario snapped its glowing blue eyes before throwing a long howl and gathering large aura spirals around itself.
"Shall we finish this?" Cynthia challenged with her ever-confident smile, much to Aqua's bubbling rage.
"It's on, Grandma!"
Cheren ducked just in time to avoid the flying Gabite thrown by his Samurott's Reversal attack and quickly ordered for a powerful Ice Beam that rooted the other Gabite and Garchomp to the ground by their feet.
"Hippie!" he barked.
"Zoroark, Night Slash!" N ordered and his Illusion fox disappeared in a fast blur before raining punishing slashes on her foes with her lengthened claws. "Now use Focus Blast!"
"Dragonbreath," Terra countered calmly and the men's eyes widened as the army of landsharks hung their jaws open and let fly a combined wave of bluish fire that made direct hits on Zoroark and Samurott, sending them flying back to their owners.
"Darn...they're too many," N hissed. "I could've used Zekrom but I'm pretty sure that's what Terra wants."
Cheren pushed up his glasses while staring thoughtfully at the knight far ahead of them. "N...I'll need you and Zoroark to step back for a bit. I'm gonna go for the Injun."
"I heard that!" Terra barked angrily. "And what makes you think you can take me down, human?"
"First off, it's Cheren," the ravenette answered and took out two other pokeballs. "Secondly, I've got these guys. Go, Emboar, Serperior!"
N rose a brow at the final evolved forms of the Unovan starters as they appeared before Cheren. The Emboar had a much more muscular build and blazing beard, attesting to its unhidden power. A familiar pokemon that rung quite a lot of bells due to the star-shaped sticker on his right cheek.
"Bianca's Emboar? And...impossible, is that Professor Juniper's Serperior?"
Cheren smirked as Samurott rose again, shaking off its aches and staring down at the Gabite and Garchomp. "We're good to go then."
"Fool. Having the three Unovan starter pokemon changes nothing," Terra scoffed.
Again, Cheren pushed up his glasses and his expression became serious. "We'll see. Emboar, Samurott, Serperior, let's blast our way through!"
Giving their respective cries, the trio stood beside each other and began to glow brightly; red for Emboar, green for Serperior and blue for Samurott. That only meant one thing.
"Blast Burn, Frenzy Plant and Hydro Cannon!" the ravenette called and Emboar roared loudly before putting its massive arms up and forming a gigantic ball of fire resembling the very sun itself. Samurott arched its head back while trembling visibly with a growing ball of water forming in front of its open jaws. Serperior simply huffed and faced skywards before throwing an eerie screech as the ground began to rumble.
"Zoroark, get back!" N warned quickly as Terra's army of pokemon got their feet free and charged for their opponents.
Eyes shielded by the glint in his glasses, Cheren simply snapped his fingers and N had to shield his eyes as a spectacular blast akin to nuclear explosion occurred as Emboar hurled the ball at the Garchomp, sending them either through the walls and windows (and thus, out of the hall) or straight to the sky, literally. The Gabite suffered even more as they felt the raw fury of Samurott's 12 foot ball of water that crashed into them and exploded in a salty water wave that, without a doubt, pushed them far into oblivion from near-drowning. And the remaining? Let's just say Terra had to jump to the ceiling as the very floor erupted in thick, sturdy vines that smashed, crashed and bashed every moving target in their way. By the time Cheren was done, N marvelled at the extensive damage caused not only to the dragons but to the floor itself.
"That's it for your army." Cheren patted the three powerful pokemon. "Now it's just you, Indiana Jones."
"The human memory must be rather weak for you not to even remember a simple five-letter word!" Terra snapped hotly, landing back on the ground loudly. "Oh well. I'll just use my main pokemon then."
Suddenly, the ground below Emboar blew open and the Mega Fire Pig came face to face with several blunt sets of teeth and a slimy red tongue.
SNAP!
"Emboar!" Cheren exclaimed, seeing the fighting-type wince as it had used its arm to block the deadly Crunch attack, earning a possibly broken arm in the process.
"Zoroark, Focus Blast!" N ordered and Terra's Garchomp quickly let go of its target before dodging the whizzing ball. Skidding back, Garchomp stopped beside its master who grinned darkly as Emboar fell on one knee while holding its bleeding arm.
"Poison," Cheren hissed and withdrew the Mega Fire Pig. "Smart choice. Now not only has our attack power been halved but Bianca's also going to kill me. You'll pay for that, Injun."
"Hmph. I'll simply take the other two down as well and subdue you two quickly," Terra scoffed matter-of-factly and casually gestured to Samurott and Serperior. "Feed."
Howling delightfully, the dopey Garchomp took a step and fizzled off into thin air before appearing as six fast blurs around Cheren, N and their pokemon.
"Oh yeah, Alphinia warned us about this," Cheren remarked, poker-face on but body anxious for a counter. "N, think you can read its moves by hearing its thoughts or something?"
"I'm a talker not a mind-reader," N replied and furrowed his brows. "Though with the amount of noise Garchomp is making, I can pick up a few things."
SNICK!
Cheren winced as his cheek began to bleed from the sudden small cut. "Hurry!"
N closed his eyes and focused on the moving Garchomp's grunts and gibbers. He could pick up something. A voice...it was saying...
FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDD!
Have you ever heard nails on a chalkboard? Well multiply that sound by 3000, throw in some scratchy music and then you'll probably understand why N suddenly screamed sharply and grab his throbbing head.
"I can't!" he exclaimed, thoroughly surprised.
"Huh?!" Cheren and Zoroark cried, equally surprised.
Before they could even inquire as to why, the six blurs multiplied and finally made a real attack, subjected the group to a rather painful round of near-crippling blows and several cuts. By the time Garchomp slid back to the smirking Terra, N and Cheren had their coats tattered and covered in several small splotches of blood. Their pokemon fared no better and were struggling to even get back on their feet with Samurott sporting a frighteningly-deep cut on its shoulder.
"Hahaha! What a pitiful sight," Terra jeered at their appearance. "Looks like you'll have to reconsider taking me down."
"Hippie," Cheren growled and wiped the blood off his cheek. "What's the deal?"
"Ordinarily, I could read any Garchomp's movements. However." N spat out some blood. "This one's a big problem."
Cheren arched a brow. "So...its special or something?"
"No. There's nothing much to read there. That Garchomp...is retarded."
Terra, Cheren and the other pokemon anime-dropped.
"H-how dare you!" the knight screeched and began to hug his teary-eyed derp. "Hush now. The foolish human didn't mean it. For all I know, you're the smartest, most handsome pokemon in the entire world. Yes you are, yes you are-"
SLASH!
Terra and Garchomp jumped away just in time to avoid Samurott's Shell Blade and the knight cast a condescending look at the ravenette on its back.
"I don't know what creeps me out the more," he growled and Samurott turned in mid-air while conjuring an Aqua Tail. "The fact that your pokemon is too stupid to even think properly-"
The Formidable Pokemon's attack got blocked by Garchomp's Dragon Tail.
"Or your hideous attempt at babying the retard!" Cheren snapped and from behind, Zoroark sent a well-timed Focus Blast at their opponents.
"How insensitive," Terra remarked and Garchomp grabbed him before disappearing again, leaving Cheren and Samurott in the way of Zoroark's attack!
BOOM!
"You idiot-hippie! Do we look like the bad guys to you!" Cheren snapped, red-faced as his pokemon landed on the ground with stars dancing around its head, indicating full-unconsciousness.
"Sorry!" was all N replied as he and Zoroark were to busy locating Garchomp. A problem soon solved as the dragon appeared seemingly out of thin air and smacked its tail into N's side, earning a bloodied gasp from the greenette. A flash later, Zoroark was hit by a Dragon Claw. Two blurs after, Cheren was knocked into a wall by a Dragon Rush. Three blurs later, N joined him. And finally, Zoroark and Serperior were smashed into the ground from seven Giga Impacts.
"Hehe, look at you," Terra scoffed, laughing loudly at them. "Had it not been for your importance, we would've eaten you by now."
Despite their severe injuries, Cheren and N smirked. Widely.
Terra tilted his head. "What?"
Then they burst into light.
"W-what sort of trickery is this?" the man stuttered, eyes wide and roaming. Then he caught the smile on the fainted Zoroark's lips. "A-an illusion?!"
And at that instant, two young men appeared behind him with their eyes shadowed, lips curved upwards and fists raised high. The injun turned. And received a steel-soled boot to the face from N and a punch to the gut from Cheren.
The solid attacks sent the knight flying and his Garchomp would've reacted had it not been for the big, black arm that burst through the floor and smashed it into a wall. This was definitely the real Garchomp as it showed no after-image after crumpling into an unconscious heap on the ground.
N straightened himself up and adjusted his collar. "Nice work, Zekrom, Zoroark."
"I'll have to admit, that was a pretty good plan," Cheren remarked, pushing up his glasses with his smoking ring-hand. "Too bad I used the punch I saved for Ghetsis."
"At least we've taken care of the Garchomp," the greenette pointed out, recalling Zoroark to rest and Zekrom simply because he was too big to fit the hall comfortably.
"Ow..." The two faced the fallen injun squarely. "How did...when did you-"
"Not too long ago. I think it was after N found out we couldn't read Herpy's moves. More precisely when you were babying (shudder) that abomination," Cheren remarked casually, gesturing to his still torn jacket. "So we had to bail for a bit and wait for an opportunity."
Terra made to get up but froze as a dagger pierced the wall inches beside his face.
"It's over for you," N stated coldly, standing above him with a dark look in his narrowed eyes. "Now either you surrender or we destroy you."
The knight stared up at N, slightly intimidated by how serious he made his simple threat. Those grey eyes reminded him so much of the first time he had ever lost...against a certain scarred redhead.
Fear? Am I...afraid...? Will I lose again like that time on the train? Like how...I lost my...family-
"No..." Terra's fist clenched as his expression contorted. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no! I will not lose to you damned humans again!"
N stepped back as Terra grabbed the dagger from the wall and took a slash at him before tossing the blade aside and putting a hand on his chest were the odd diamond sat.
"I don't care if your lives are at risk! I must win! Perhaps it's time I show you how fearsome Team Plasma really is!" he declared and gave the diamond a twist. "Awaken, Dialga!"
"Eh?!" Cheren and N exclaimed and nearly fell as the floor began to tremble violently. From behind the grinning knight, a black hole tore open and the men were surprised to see the very air around it bending and contracting as papery energy swirled around the black hole, taking an unknown form.
"Did he just say Dialga?" Cheren called above the noisy gale that had suddenly whipped up.
"I'm afraid so!" N called back and put a hand up to shield his face from the sharp wind. Terra's form had already become consumed by an ominous blue light that blinded everything in sight and levelled the very spot he was standing on. A mighty blast of energy later, purple smoke spread through the hall and the men coughed before feeling their jaws hang open as they spotted a pair of glowing red eyes in the smoke.
As the substance cleared, Cheren only had one word to say.
"Damn."
Terra looked down on them from the safety of his high and mighty podium and grinned evilly. "This is the end for you."
Said podium- the Titan of Time, Dialga- opened its mouth and threw a screech that sounded like a cross between a bell and scraping metal, signifying its entrance into the Red Moon Ball...and the possible exit of Cheren and N.
"Did you hear that?" Alphy asked, slowing down to get a clearer grip on the metallic roar.
Lucky shuddered on Scarlet's shoulder and the redhead looked back with an expression of uncertainty.
"Just what the hell did Ghetsis send out there?" he muttered to himself and shook the uncertainty out of his head. "It's okay guys. Cynthia and the others are pretty powerful so we don't have to worry."
Jolteon barked in accentuation and rushed up to a door before Volt Tackling it down and finding itself in an open bridge with what they had been looking for right ahead. Before him and his friends stood their final obstacle, a tall tower with a statue at the lofty top.
"This is it," Alphinia remarked airily and pointed to the top where the red clouds seemed to spiral grimly. "Ghetsis and White should be at the very top where the Red Moon's rays should be brightest. But I'm sure he's got lots of monsters and traps on each floor so if we want to get there safely we'll have to-HEY! Wait!"
Scarlet and Jolteon had already reached the entrance of the tower and only stopped to give Alphinia an apologetic look.
"Sorry. We're just real eager to get to White," he apologised and threw a thumbs-up. "You can go now. Jolteon and I can take it from here."
Alphinia blinked. "I'm sorry. I don't understand?"
"This is our problem. Ghetsis has White and it's our responsibility to take him down," Scarlet explained, gesturing to Jolteon and the pokeballs on his belt. "I'm sorry for just letting you off like this but-"
"But nothing! I want to help!" the blonde protested. "Besides, you guys won't be enough! Who knows what Ghetsis will-"
Scarlet put a finger to her lips. "I'm not underestimating you or anything. Believe me when I say I know first hand what you're capable of. But I can't risk losing Gilbert's girlfriend. Ghetsis made you, Alphinia. I'm pretty sure he could just as well take you apart since he knows your weak points. That cowboy will eat me alive if that happens."
"But-!"
She had to stop at his reassuring smile. This was the first time she had seen his eyes look so pleadingly at anyone and she hadn't the heart to continue.
"Fine...I guess I'll just go and help the others," she replied and turned before adding, "And maybe a friend of mine too."
"You had someone here?"
Alphinia smiled wanly. "Yeah. My first human friend. I should go look for her."
"Well good-luck to that," Scarlet said encouragingly and slipped on his gloves before pulling out Emboar's pokeball. "By the way, I'm too impatient to fight my way through the tower so we'll just take a shortcut."
Once Emboar was called out, the redhead pressed a palm to her belly and felt the fiery power flow into his veins. At the same time, red lines formed on his left arm, signifying the fire-boost activation.
"We're off," he said to Alphinia and waved. "Find your friend, help the others beat the knights and then maybe it'd be safer to come up and help us out, 'kay?"
"Don't die," she replied firmly and climbed atop the edge of the bridge. Nodding, Scarlet hoisted Jolteon onto his head and made sure Lucky was securely hanging on to his shoulder before recalling Emboar and cracking his knuckles.
"Here we go!" he declared and with a burst, his gloves ignited and sent the trio spiralling upwards and into the red clouds where the top of the tower lay. Where their final opponent sat. And where the goal of their very mission stood lay.
Alphinia watched them disappear into the clouds before taking off her coat. "Guess I'd better get moving to. I hope you're still alive, Camille."
And with that, she leapt off the edge and down to the courtyard below.
Preview: The maddened clowns clash, spilling blood for the sake of their ideals. The beastly titans fight, breaking bones for the sake of their loved ones. The heroes finally confront the demon, ready to take back what was stolen from them. And the fateful war continues, for the sake of the world.
...An unexpected twist begins...
NEXT TIME: KONFRONTATION.